COEUR d’ALENE — Nearly four years ago, Brian Hansen won a 2019 Chevrolet Trax at Knudtsen Chevrolet and promptly gave it away.

Thursday afternoon he walked into Knudtsen Chevrolet and was given a 2024 Chevrolet Trax. Free.

This time, he kept it.

“Incredible,” Hansen said. “It’s just incredible.”

The 2020 Post Falls High School graduate was surprised, smiling almost in disbelief, as he received the keys for the gleaming white $24,000 SUV.

The Trax will come in handy as he’s headed to Brigham Young University this fall and didn’t even own a car. His last one was a 1992 Subaru Legacy and he drove that until the engine blew out.

This is a major upgrade.

“I need mobility, so that’s huge,” Hansen said.

Bryan McConnaha, sales manager with Knudtsen Chevrolet, said they wanted to honor Hansen for what he did in June 2020. Back then, in a gesture that stunned onlookers, he turned down the 2019 Trax and gave it to a Timberlake High School graduate.

“We’re going to help you back out and give you this car. This is it,” McConnaha said after Hansen walked in with his parents. “What do you think?”

“I love it,” Hansen responded.

McConnaha said the 2024 Trax just came out and is a top seller.

“It’s the latest and greatest in this category, for sure,” McConnaha said.

The vehicle comes with many features and options, including lane assist, plenty of cargo space and front and rear pedestrian alert. It has the technology to respond to traffic ahead and slow down as necessary and it can auto stop and start in heavy traffic to conserve fuel.

“It’s designed around safety,” said David Patton, sales associate.

Hansen earned much praise for his actions June 18, 2020, during the annual car giveaway for a local graduating senior at the Post Falls dealership.

Five graduates from area high schools chosen by drawing were each given a key. Only one would open the door of the Trax.

Amy Palmer, a Timberlake High School grad, went first. She thought she heard a click, and it turned, but she had also expected the horn to honk and lights to flash if she had the winning key. 

“I didn’t know,” she said at the time. “I felt it flip open. I just didn’t really think about it. I thought, ‘What are the chances the first one opens it?’”

The others took their turns — but none opened the door. At that point, the keys were placed back in a basket and it was decided to try again.

It was then Palmer mentioned she must have had the right key, but simply didn’t pull the door open.

“Then I thought, ‘Oh my God. I messed it up. I ruined it.’ Maybe they could sort out the keys, but they had all been put back in the basket,” Palmer said.

“You know what? It’s fine,” she thought to herself. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

On the second try, Palmer went first. No go.

Hansen’s turn.

It opened.

He grinned and posed for pictures with his new ride as people applauded. 

But then, Hansen had a thought. He wanted Palmer to have it.

“It’s not about me. She honestly won the car,” Hansen said.

Shortly afterward, Hansen left on a two-year mission to Argentina with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but his above-board approach to life didn’t go unnoticed.

When he returned home Sunday, Knudtsen Chevrolet was waiting.

Hansen’s parents, Jim and Teri, told him they had a family activity to attend Wednesday afternoon. They pulled up at Knudtsen Chevrolet and said the crew there wanted to say hi as they heard he was back.

“I remember this place,” Brian Hansen said.

Jim and Teri Hansen said they were proud of their son for his heart to serve and of Knudtsen Chevrolet for its generosity.

“We are just overwhelmed with the culture of Knudtsen Chevrolet and their ability to focus on positive things and pay it forward,” Jim Hansen said.

Brian Hansen said his mission trip was all about serving people. He said dedicating your life to others for two years is hard, but worth it.

“It changes you. It grows you,” he said.

At BYU, Hansen plans to study business and finance. The 2024 Trax will give him the transportation needed to get around in Utah and will be a dream to drive for the 740 miles between BYU and Post Falls.

“I don’t have to worry about a breakdown,” he said.

    Some of the crew at Knudtsen Chevrolet join Brian Hansen around the 2024 Trax he was given on Wednesday.